Non-SF Short Stories
Remembrance Day
I didn't really know why I was there. It had probably been Mark's idea. I don't remember him being to a protest before either, but he was certainly incensed this time. And his enthusiasm was infectious. It wasn't that we had ever disagreed over what was right and wrong about the whole thing. That was never in doubt. It was just a matter of whether protests actually achieved anything. Mark's words went a long way towards convincing me: "Bloody bureaucrats! That's what we get alled," he had said. "Paper shufflers who are just out to make life complicated for the real workers. Well, this time we'll show them. For once we'll make a stand." So we were out to make a stand and it was soon obvious that we weren't the only ones who had left our offices that afternoon.
"Remembrance Day" was set on the day of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government. The story was published in 1989 in Outrider - Contemporary Australian Literature Volume 6 No. 4. The journal's aim was to "extend the concept of Australian literature".
"Remembrance Day" was set on the day of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government. The story was published in 1989 in Outrider - Contemporary Australian Literature Volume 6 No. 4. The journal's aim was to "extend the concept of Australian literature".
The Long Distance Swimmer
Heat and chemicals don't mix very well. I can feel the chlorine fumes shooting up my nostrils and into my brain. It's funny how you stop noticing it after the first few minutes. I sometimes wonder what that means. But never for very long. I guess you can't keep wondering forever.
The pool doesn't look too busy this morning. There's usually a big drop out rate mid-winter. Maybe the rain'skeeping them away. I can see it trickling down the glass walls. The squad's already churning out the laps in 7 and 8 and Doug's well into it in 5. Red cap's just putting on his goggles in 2. This morning I've got his measure; I can feel it.
"The Long Distance Swimmer" was published in 1989 in Northern Perspective, the Journal of Northern Territory University (Volume 12 Number 2). Parts of this story became my children's story, "The Crossing".
The pool doesn't look too busy this morning. There's usually a big drop out rate mid-winter. Maybe the rain'skeeping them away. I can see it trickling down the glass walls. The squad's already churning out the laps in 7 and 8 and Doug's well into it in 5. Red cap's just putting on his goggles in 2. This morning I've got his measure; I can feel it.
"The Long Distance Swimmer" was published in 1989 in Northern Perspective, the Journal of Northern Territory University (Volume 12 Number 2). Parts of this story became my children's story, "The Crossing".
The Intruders
The wind always whipped at you down at the Rock. I remember that now, although the years between had dulled the sensation. It battered us as we walked hand in hand across the narrow weather-worn ridge that separated the Rock from the island.
"Tell me more about it," said Mary looking right through me the way she often did.
"I told you, I was just a kid. We were on holidays down here. I'm not really sure which parts happened and which parts I dreamt. Kids often get things like that mixed up, don't they?"
"The Intruders" was set at Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island, one of my favourite places. It was published in 1991 in Northern Perspective, the Journal of Northern Territory University (Volume 14 Number 2).
"Tell me more about it," said Mary looking right through me the way she often did.
"I told you, I was just a kid. We were on holidays down here. I'm not really sure which parts happened and which parts I dreamt. Kids often get things like that mixed up, don't they?"
"The Intruders" was set at Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island, one of my favourite places. It was published in 1991 in Northern Perspective, the Journal of Northern Territory University (Volume 14 Number 2).